Voltage fluctuations

Just got the power turned on at a house we just bought (was off for 3 years). When running our 10 amp sawzall and little radio (nothing else) for a few minutes the radio kicks off and will not power on anymore. The sawzall seemed like it was cutting out for like 1/2 sec periods and then returning to normal. Went to outlet and put voltmeter on it and it registered 124 volts (no load). When sawzall was running it usually stayed at 123 volts but sporadically would drop to as low as 70 volts. Called POCO and they said it was fixed the next day. Went back to outlet and ran sawzall with voltmeter attached and it usually stayed at 124 volts again, BUT this time sporadically the voltmeter would jump into the hundreds (200 - 300+) for like a millisecond and come back down to 124 volts again. The sawzall usually didn't run faster during this "spikes" except for 1 time the motor speed up for a second.

Called the POCO again and requested a data recorder for meter (which they did). Any idea on what can be causing this? Bad transformer maybe?

The most likely cause of increasing voltage is a bad neutral !
It could be in your instalation ?
Or it could also be in poco's gear.
Check all your neutrals,
if all is ok, call poco and ask them to check there's.

This is a serious situation !
You could get your equipment blown up.
240v on a 120v system is a disaster.

Since I checked all my neutrals already, I must assume it is on the POCO side. They are aware of it already, so hopefully the data recorder will pick it up so something can be done about it.

I guess I am still wondering, is it "normal" to have millisecond surges in voltage that are quick enough to register briefly on a voltmeter, but do not last long enough to speed up a motor in sawzall for example?

There was only 1 instance where the sawzall speed up for like a 1/2 sec, all the other times it didn't.

Since I checked all my neutrals already, I must assume it is on the POCO side. They are aware of it already, so hopefully the data recorder will pick it up so something can be done about it.

I guess I am still wondering, is it "normal" to have millisecond surges in voltage that are quick enough to register briefly on a voltmeter, but do not last long enough to speed up a motor in sawzall for example?

There was only 1 instance where the sawzall speed up for like a 1/2 sec, all the other times it didn't.

I know what you mean... it's like you're loosing your service neutral for a split second.... can't think of that circumstance.

Could it be transformer related.... I know absolutely nothing about that... you're new there.... could any of your neighbors (same transformer) be having those millisecd occurances.?

I know what you mean... it's like you're loosing your service neutral for a split second.... can't think of that circumstance.

Could it be transformer related.... I know absolutely nothing about that... you're new there.... could any of your neighbors (same transformer) be having those millisecd occurances.?

I don't know my neighbors yet, but I'm gonna be working there tomorrow with the sawzall so will see if it starts doing it again. Plus it's suppose to rain and be windy so if it's a service neutral issue, maybe it will show itself a little more.

Any chance of getting zapped while running the sawzall if the neutral kicks out briefly?

I don't know my neighbors yet, but I'm gonna be working there tomorrow with the sawzall so will see if it starts doing it again. Plus it's suppose to rain and be windy so if it's a service neutral issue, maybe it will show itself a little more.

Any chance of getting zapped while running the sawzall if the neutral kicks out briefly?

Wellllllllll..... we don't know what it is..... if you're loosing the service neutral..... that sawzall is taking on 240V.... yea it's probably double insulated buttttt.....

Ya know... tomorrow might be a good day to treat yourself to that 18V battery driven sawzall you were hopeing for for Xmas????????

I don't know my neighbors yet, but I'm gonna be working there tomorrow with the sawzall so will see if it starts doing it again. Plus it's suppose to rain and be windy so if it's a service neutral issue, maybe it will show itself a little more.

Any chance of getting zapped while running the sawzall if the neutral kicks out briefly?

Bonjour Steve.,

First question is that are you in the city area or in the country area ?

Second thing with overhead drops sometime they will have hidden netural connecton on the cable itself can go bad. as long the POCO put a voltage recording device it may catch what it going thru.

If windy and if the light flicker that is your answer the netural connection is allready comperised call them back tell them you have bad netural connection that is POCO proity ( SP )

Now for your sawall if all plastique sawall unit it should be double insulated that should not affect too much due I have double insluated verison over here in France and it is common to run on 240 volts over here but not in the state side if you get 240 volts running thru the sawall most likely damage will show up is your speed control button that will be the first to go after that who know.

First question is that are you in the city area or in the country area ?

Second thing with overhead drops sometime they will have hidden netural connecton on the cable itself can go bad. as long the POCO put a voltage recording device it may catch what it going thru.

If windy and if the light flicker that is your answer the netural connection is allready comperised call them back tell them you have bad netural connection that is POCO proity ( SP )

Now for your sawall if all plastique sawall unit it should be double insulated that should not affect too much due I have double insluated verison over here in France and it is common to run on 240 volts over here but not in the state side if you get 240 volts running thru the sawall most likely damage will show up is your speed control button that will be the first to go after that who know.

Merci,
Marc

Marc.... Bon Jour... Comment sa va..... that's the best I can do...

Did want to ask you a question concerning bad service neutral and if I am thinking correctly?

If the service neutral is broken (or fluctuating on/off in this case),
and the OP has power on one receptical (one leg of service) for his sawzall, does not his other leg have to have a live resistor active for him to have 240 on his leg ?????

I ask because I think the OP said earlier that he had (was using) only
this one receptical.